crago



Sept. 1, 1925., 1,551,542

- F. H. CRAG O- TRAP Filed March; 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- Sept. 1, 1925 F. H. CRAGO TRAP Filed March 4. 1924 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 1, 1 925 UNITE-D V STATES FELIX I-I. CRAGO, OF MILLTOWN, MONTANA.

TRA

Application filed Mareh4, 1924. Serial No. 698,842.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, FELIX H. GRAGO, a citizen of .the United States, residing at Milltown, in the county of Missoula and State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Trap, of which the following is .a specification.

This invention aims to provide a simple trap in which animals may be taken alive, novel means being provided for operating and controlling the of the trap.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices ofthat type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view,

which will appear as the description pro-- Figure 3 is an end elevation wherein the trap is shown closed,

Figure 4 is a transverse section wherein the trap is shown in set position, the pouch being omitted in Figures 2, 3 and 4;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through the pivotal mounting for the aws.

The trap forming the subject matter of this application comprises jaws 1 each in cluding a loop-shaped body 2 having outwardly extended arms 3 terminating in extensions 4: which are secured at 5 to the body 2. Reinforcing strips 8 are secured at 9 to the outer portions ofthe body 2 of the jaws l, a spring latch 10 being attached at 11 to the reinforcing strip 8 of one jaw, and being adapted .to cooperate with the reinforcing strip of the other jaw, to hold the jaws against accidental opening, when the jaws are closed, as in Figure 3, there being enough play between the latch 10 and one jaw as indicated at 12 in Figure 3, so that the latch will cooperate with the jaws and hold them against accidental opening, even. 7

brackets 20 and 21 abut.

though the jaws do not happen to close tightly together, as shown in Figure 3. U-shaped hinged members 1% are secured at to the arms 3 of the body 2 of the jaws 1. A pouch6, made of chain netting or other suitable material is connected as at 7 to the hodies'2 of the jaws, to the extensions 4 and to the hinge members 14. The ends of the U-shaped hinge members it are overlapped on each other and are mounted on sleeves 16 constituting parts of the pivotal mountings of the jaws. Torsion springs 17 surround the sleeves 16, the ends of the springs being marked by the numeral 18. One end of each spring 17 engages the extension 4 of one jaw 1 and the other end of the spring is engaged with the loop-shaped body 2 of the cooperating jaw, in a way which will be understood clearly when Figure 1 of the drawings is noted. The springs tend to swing the jaws 1 together, from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position depicted in Figured Supports 19 abut intermediate their ends against the outer ends of the sleeves 16; Against the inner ends of'the sleeves 16,

Tightening devices 22, such as posts, extend through the sleeves 16, through the support 19, and through the brackets 20 and 21. By tightening up the nuts on the bolts 22, the supports 19 and the brackets 20 and 21 may be drawn and held against the ends of the sleeves 16 in the same horizontal plane, it being possible for the hinge members'll of the jaws to swing freely on the sleeve 16, no matter how tightly the nuts on the bolts 22 may be set up. Bail shaped retainers 23 are pivoted on the ends .of the supports 19 and are adapted to overhang the bodies of the jaws 1. 'The retainers 23 bear upon the extensions 4, and, thus, the retainers are given a good leverage during the setting of the trap. v

A main trigger, in the form of a plate, and marked by the numeral 24, is located adjacent to the transverse center of the trap, in line with the tightening devices 22, and is pivotally mounted at 25 on the bracket 20, the maintrigger having an offset keeper 26adapted to engage the adjacent retainer 23. An auxiliary trigger 27 in the form of a rod or ban is pivotally mounted at one end, asshown at 28 on the bracket 21, the inner end of the auxiliary trigger extend- I hcine the bracket 2i, and tainer and sup; crt, may desired, the parts specified gene used only on large or wh sire-d to hold the jaws 1 open, action the springs ii" by 'rnmentalit'ee located acjacent {51!} said springs.

l Vhen tne "rap is set, extend iwiiner being :26 of the mai the anxiliai v. 4 inner end of ,llD trig ger, as shown in Figure 4:. When an animal treads on the ger 24, the inner ends both and 27 will he carrf keepers 26 d 29 being i the retainers 23 the jaws swine; to ether, under the act on of the spi gs 17, and the jaws swing' the retainers 2 outwardly in opposite directions on the supports 19. When the jaws come together the will be held against accidental one? ing by the latch 10. The trap is made large enough so that the animal to he caught is not gripned by the jaws 1., the pouch t) merely be ing closed ahont the animal and the animal ope'ation which is n 1 u. L

taken alive an peculiarly desirable when, as in the case of iilJ-lQQflllDQ; ani .ls, it is desirable to take the adult males. -enwles the small an mals being: The it; an is so con he snrnn at a very lightpi'essnre on the ilf'l "slate 24 and the device will he *cnnd hsetnl either in catching large animals or small animals.

' v v each including he he oriwarely en 1v terennatllg in angularly disposed extensions secured at their ends to the liWtllQS of the taws pivot members, means itcr connect t the arms of the 'aws with 1 he svot members to hermit tne aws to 1 close spr ng; means for closing a support mounted intermediate 1 the outer end ot' one pivot inenm the :Jaincr pivoted to and overhanging the are opened, the reith the ensions to inf t 1e retainer on the i s are heing opened, and cooperating; with the re- L- to hold the jaws A trap comp. I 11;; arcuate jaws, pairs shaped hinge members secured to the en-as oi? the hinee members of each overlan tubular sleeves nds of the hinge oa' a helical spring disa; host one sleeve and engaged at its s wits hoth jaws, to close them, tighten devices or; tended through the sleeves and \hrough the overlapped ends of the hinge members of both nairs ineans bound by one or the tiel'rteninp; devices against the ends ot' one sleeve for holding the hinge memhers oi no pair on said sleeve a bracket and a support held by the other tightenj device against the ends of the correending sleeve, a retainer pivoted to the i and overhanging the jaws when the opened and trigger pivoted to '2 e bracket and coactine with the retainer hold the jaws open. in testimony that I claim the foregoing" as ray own.v T have hereto affixed my signatin-e.

FELIX H. CRAGO.

i o I both 

